Tank-valve ball.



L. A. CORNELIUS.

TANK VALVE BALL.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 25, 1009.

1,001,621, Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

WITNESSES INVENTOR r m Q 7 5 B dwwwl 74 7M ATTORNEY tlhlllTE @ATE tll lt llttlll l.

LOUIS A. CORNELIUS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

TANK-VALVE BALL.

t eorem.

To all uf/iom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, LOUIS A. (Joannmus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of lrliichigan, have invented new and useful lniprovements in 'llank-Valve Balls, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to a tank valve ball adapted especially for controlling the outlet valve in closet tanks. its purpose is to provide a desirable COll'llJlIltltiOTl of simplicity and economy in 1naimifacture, with strength, lightness and efficiency in use. l accomplish this by the fori'n of construction shown in the accompanying drawing, in which one half of the figure shows in perspective the finished valve hall, while the other half is cut away to show the same parts in crosssection.

It is nece sary that valves of this kind should be light enough to float positively and flexible enough to seat themselves and to be held firmly by suction in the valve opening, because only by such flexibility can the necessitybe avoided for impractical perfection of fit. :Qlalls composed entirely of rubber and composed entirely of metal have been used, and balls have also been constructed composed partly of rubber and partly of metal. l aim to avoid difficulties and weaknesses and objections in this last class of such halls.

in the drawing 1, represents the upper or metal half of the ball, and 2 the lower or rubber half thereof. This valve is manually operated by a valve stem 3, which may be screwed into, or otherwise inserted in a suitable way, in the lug, or cap, 4-. The upper pa rt: o f the ball is struck up from light brass, or other suitable metal,in substantially semispherical form, open at the bottom and is stitlcncdby the horizontal corrugations 5, of any suitable form. \Vhen this portion of the ball is made of metal sufficiently light so as not to interfere with the floating ca pacity of the ball, there is difficulty in making a sufficiently firm connection with the upper edge of the rubber half of the ball. The metal may be turned over to engage a flange on the rubber ball, but the metal being so very light, and having to be turned over a large flange of flexible material, it is likely to be distorted and pulled out of shape, permitting the water to enter the ball Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 25,

Patented Am: 29, 1911.

1909. Serial No. 524,347.

and interfere with its operation. I avoid this difficulty by using a separate annular flange of the form shown in cross-section by t3. This separate flange may he made of heavier metal, as still as may be found necessary, without adding too much weight to the ball. The upper and outer edge of this separate flange may be turned over to engage the lower edge of the metallic half of the ball and the inner, downwardly-extending portion of the annular flange may be turned up, as shown, to engage the flange 7, which flange is on the upper edge of the rubber half of the ball. in this manner l make complete and satistzuatory eiutagement between the two parts of the ball, stiffen the ball as much as is necessary at its center to prevent accidental or undue distortion, leave the lower half sufficiently flexible, and produce a device which is very etlicicnt and extremely simple and ccmiomical in the procof its manufacture.

ll aving thus described my inventiomwhat l claim to have invented, and desire to secure by l ietters latent, is

1. A hollow air-tight valve ball comprising a. metal portion having an annular flange, a rubber portion having an annular flange, and an annular metal connecting member for said portions, of separate piece therefrom, and having a flange turned over and embracing the metal portions flange, and another flange embracing the rubber portions flange and turned in the direction opposite to that in which the members first flange is turned, such member in transverse section thus assuming the shape of a distorted letter 5.

2. A hollow air-tight valve ball comprising cupshapcd portions, and an annular connecting member for said portions, of separate piece therefrom. and having a flange embracing the peripheral edge of one said portion and another flange emhracimg the peri 'iheral edge of the other said portion and turned in the direction opposite to that in which the memhei "s first flange is turned, such member in transverse section thus assuming the shape of a distorttal letter S.

3. A hollow air-tight *alve ball comprising a metal portion having an outwardly-extending annular flange, a rubber portion having an inwardly-extending annular flange, and an annular metal connecting my hand in presence of two subscribing Witmember for sand portlons, of separate plece nesses. therefrom, and havlng a flange turned over and embracing the metal portions flange, LOUIS CORNELIUS and another flange turned over and enlbrac- Vitnesses: ing the rubber portions flange. MARY S. TooKER,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set MARY SOI-IULTE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

